Steel derrick construction



L A RAWSON STEEL DERRICK CONSTRUCTION Filed June l5. 1925 Dec. 14, 926.

Patented Dec. 1 4, i925.

UNITED s'rArEs 1.61am rATENr OFFICE..

LESLIE A. Rawson, or venice, camroaivra. AssreNon'To misco DERRICK &EQUIP- MBNT coMraNY, or Los ANG-Enns. CALIFORNIA, A coarovimrrcin oFOALIFORNIA.

STEEL DERRICK CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed June 13,

My invention relates particularly t'o steel therein. I accom lish thisobjectief my inf drillingI industry. An example of the use of a steelderrick to which my invention apper-` A derrick to the drilling of thetainsis in the-oil wellindustry is installed previous well for thepurpose of handling the various casings and equipment employed duringthe drilling. and also duri-ng the pumping of the well. During thedrilling of the well, the derrick is called upon to handle enormousloadsand is subjected to great strains. For example, it is sometimesnecessary to pull a casing' which has been frozenf After the well isdrilled and the casing is set in place,

the derrick is not called upon to' handle ex trernely heavy objects.During the ipump ing of'the well, yit is only necessary to handle thepump tubing and rods which are comparatively light as compared with thedrill pipe and other drilling equipment. If the derricks are madesufficiently heavy to withstand the great'strains to which they aresubjected during the drilling-of a-Well.' theyare mtich'lieavier than isnecessary during the pumping period of the well. As amate ter ofeconomy. some companies have as sumedthe practice of providing a heavyderrick during the drilling' period which is' dismantled' when the drillperiod isv over. -This'heavy derrickis replaced by a lighter derrickwhich is sufficiently heavy for use` duringvthe pumping of the we ll.

' It is an object of myinvention to provide la der-rick whichis s oconstructed that it is suiiiciently strong to withstand any strainswhich may be placed thereon during the drillingl period. and is soconstructed that portions thereofmay be removed after the .drilling ofthe well, greatly lightening the' rderrick and cutting down theinvestment vention by provi ing a structure. which is substantiallyequivalent to the ordinary conr struction -of light or Ypumping derrick.In

addition to` this, I provide reinforcing legs which are secured in placeduring the drill- `ing of the well and which assist the main legs of thederrick in carrying great loads.

"When the drilling has been finished, these reinforcing legs may beremoved from place, leaving the essential construction of the derrick tohe used during the pumping operation Vof the well. These',reinforcinglegs may be used on various derricks, that is to 1925.'serial No. 36.901.

employed with these derricks when they are .taking drilling duty. y Itis anothei` object f my invention to provide a means whereby the portionof the load taken by the main legs and the rein- ^forcinglegs may beadjusted.- I accomplish this by providing inserts which are adapted tobe inserted in such a manner as to increase the effective length ofthereinforcing legs. Then thesevreinforcing legs are installed Yin aderriclr, they are adjusted in length so they may take any-desiredportion of the load. This insert arrangement also permits easyinstallation and removal of the reinforcing legs.

It is also an object of Vmy invention to provide a' reinforcing legarrangement of this character which, when once installed, is permanentuntil steps are taken to removeit from place.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be made evidenthereinafter.

Referring to the drawing in which I illustrate a preferred forni of myinvention. Q

Fig. l is .an elevational view through a corner of a derrick showing areinforcing leg of my invention in. place. The derrick in this view isshown very'diagrammatically and is, broken .away 'so as to clearly showmy invention.

Fig. 2 -is .a section taken on the line 2`-2 gf Fig. l showing the clampmembers employed 'by my invention for holding the reinforcing.

legs in place.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the lower end of a leg of the derric'k.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 1.1.--41L` much smaller scaleshowing the location of the main legs and the reinforcing legs of thederrick of my lnvention.V

In the form of the. invention illustrated in the drawings, I provide vaderrick having four main legs-1n the formof angle-iron legs composed ofa number of shims 10.k

'secured a lower thrust member 22.

-heavy portions :26. adjacent to the 11 which extend from foundations 12to an upper structure 13. This upper structurel-l is composed of crossmembers '14. which form a construction on which the crown block of thederrich rests. The legs 11 are connected together by suitable crossbracing which` for the purpose of simplicity, is not loads which areplaced thereon duringv theA drilling' period of the well.'

At the upper end of each of the anirleiron legs 11, as shown in Fie'. 1,there secured an upper thrust member 1G which may be bolted to one ofthe legs 11 or to the lower cross member 'Il of the top structnie 13.l'lach of the upper thrust members .1G provides a socliet 1T into whichan upper end 1S ot a reinforcing lee' 1.() extends. there being` a.reinftn'cinil` legi lliextenilinfr parallel with and adjacent to each ofthe main angle-iron legs L1. The reinforcing lees 19 are preferably madefrom a pipe, as shown. Near the lower end of each ot the main legs 11there is This lower thrust member 22 has a tubula'il shaped body Q3which has a pair of plane faces 24 which are suhstantially'atrightangles to eachother and which are adapted to engage inner faces' 2l ofthe legs 25 of each of the main angle legs 11. Extending through facesQ-l. are bolts Q7 which also extend through the legs Q5 ol' each ot themain legs 11 for the purpose of securing' each of the lower thrustmembers 22 in place. A lower face Q8 of each of ythe reinforcingl legs`19`enp5a`ejes an annular shoulder Q9 of a head 3() of an abutmentmember f3 Each abutment member 31 has a stem :'32 which extendsdownwardly from thehead 50 through an opening' 34 in a wall of each ofthe lower thrust members 22.

Between a lower face 36 of each head 30 and an upper face 3T of the wall35 of each lower thrust member 22,-there is placed an insert means orinsert member 39 which is These shims -1-0, as shown in Fig. il, aremade in two sections 41 for the purpose of facilitating' theirinstallation, as will be' hereinafter described. A tubular shield or,Q'uard #lf3 is placed around the lower end` of .each of thereinforcing' legs 19 and serves to enclose the inserts 39. The shield 3protects the. inserts` 39 and prevents their being"accidentally 1re`moved from place. Clamp bolts 50, Figi. 2.

are providedat various' places along' th'e legs 1S) for .securing themto the main legs 11.

The main angle legs 11. the foundations Aauxiliar); equipment.

1Q and the top structure are arranged to be used alone'during' thepumpingy of the well and are, therefore, permanently assembled together.The reinforcing legs 10 and their associated parts are used only duringrthe pumping period of the well and are therefore made so as to beremovable and to be After the lighter dcrrick has been installed, theupper anrl lower thrust members lo and 22 are secured in place b vsuitable bolts. The reinforcing' 11S) are then installed in place alongkwith .the abutment member S31. und the ,guard 13.

ln order that the reinforeineT legs 1S) talie part of the load of the.derricle, it is necessary that they be placed under compression. rl`oaccomplish this, jacks a,re employcl which are adapted to engage thelower ends of the stems 32 of the abutment members 3,1.

The jacks are operated so as to force the al utment members fllnpwardly.thus forcine. the reinforein; legs 1S) upwardly therewith. lll'lhen thereinforcing legs 1S) are sufficiently under com-pression to take thedesired portion of the load, shims -lll are placed between Athe faces1lb' and 37. The shims -10 are made in two semi-circular pieces 41 sothat the.;v may be placed around the upper end ofthe stem 32, as clearlyshown in the drawings. After the slums-4() have been installed. thejacks are removed from place. More or less of the load of the derrickmay be carried by the reinforcing lees 15) by installing' a greater orless number of shims. During' the placingr ot the shims 10, the guardsare slippell upwardly on the reinforcingd lees V1l) to lgive access tothe space bei tween the heads of the lift members and the upper `facesof the. lower thrust members 22. After the installation of the shims,the guards all) are lowered into place, as clearly shown in Fig'. 4, sothat the shims will be protected against accidental removal from place.

From the foregoing' description, it will be Seen that my invention is ofe'reat value from astandpoint of economy. It permits a fairly lightconstruction of derrick to be installed which may .be made sutlicientlystrong to withstand strains during the drillingperiod of the well. Afterthe drilling period is over, these reinforcintT means which are in theform of lees ltl'maybe removed and use-.l on other similar derrickconstructions. The arrangement for elevating' 'and reinforcing legs 19is very simple in construction and allows the legs to be adjusted totake any desired portion of the load ot' the derrick. installed., theeffective length of each leg 1.() is permanent and will notl `ret out ofadjust'- ment. The device of the arrangement is of such design that itis ch ap to produce and permits an easy installation and removal of itsvarious parts.

IUC

ieg

n .lower thrust member secured near-the1lowei- I claim as.my-invention:` l

1. In a steelderrick, the combination-tof: main legs an topl structuresupported-atffand rigidly secured to the Vupper end of. said main legs;an upper .thrust'member securedneai the upper end of each of said-mainlegs;

end of each of said legs; a reinforcing-leg extending between eachupperand lower placed between each of said reinforcing legsrfilllfjoneof said thrust membe 's bywirtue of which said reinforcinglegs will carry a greater portion of the weight ofsaid upper structure.

2. In 'a steel derrick, the combination of: main legs; a top structuresupported atthe upper end of said main legs; an upper .thrust membersecured near the upper end of each of .saidmain legs; ya lower thrustmember secured near, the lower end of each of said legs;

v-a reinforcing legl extending between each upper andlowerlthrustmember, said reinforcing legs 4assisting said mainA legs vin supportinsaid top structure; insert means arrange .to -bev placed lbetween eachof vsaid legs and one of said -thrust members by virtue of, which saidreinforcing legs will carry a greater portion of the weight of saidupper` structure; and abutment' mea-ns for engaging each ofsaidreinforcing legsto all-ow the latter to be moved soas to permit theplaci-ngof-Fsaid insert :means 3. lIn a 'steel derrick, the combinationof: main legs; 'a Vtop structure supported" at the upper end of saidmain legs; an upper thrust` .member secured near the upper end fof eachofsaid main' legs; a lower thrust member secured'near 'the lower end ofeach of lsaid legs; areinforcing 'leg' extending' 'between each upperand lower thrust m-ember, said 'reinforcing legs assisting said mainlegs iin supporting said top structure; insert means arranged to-.heplaced between each .of said legs and one -vof 'said thrust members vbyvirtue of whichsaid reinforcing legs will carry a greater portion oft-he `weight 'of said upper structure; abutment means for engaging-'eachof said reinforcing-legs toxallow the latter to be moved .so as tto`permit lthe placing of said insert means; and means for enclosing saidinserts.

L 4. In a steel ,derrick', the combination of: a top structure; aplurality of main :legs .for supporting said top structure; :a.plurali-ty of upper thrust members, there being vone of said upperthrust members secured aftpthe. upper end of cach of said main legs; aplurality of lower thrust members, there being one of said lower thrustmembers secured at the lower end of each of said main legs; a pluralityof reinforcing legs, one of said reinforcing legs being arrangedadjacent to e'ach 0f said main 'legs and engaging one of saidup'perthrust members; a plurality of inserts, one of said inserts beingarranged between-pone-of said reinforcing legs and one oflsaid' lowerthi-fist inembers;,and a plulality of abutment members, one of'saidAbutinent members being arranged, to cngage one of saidreinforcinglegsto allow 'the-latter to 'be moved so that one of said.insertsmaybefinstalled. 5. In a steel derrick,`the-combiiiation of: atop structure; a plurality of-maiii legs for supporting said topstructure; a plurality of upper thrust members, there being one of saidupper thrust members secured at' the -upper end of each of said mainlegs; a plurality of lower thrust members, therebeing one of said' lowerthrust members secured at the lower end of each of said main legs; aplurality of reinforcing legs` one of said yreinforcing legs beingarranged adjacent to each of said main legs 'and engaging one of saidupper thrust members; a plurality of inserts, one of said ins-erts beingarranged Vbetween one of said vreinforcing legs and one or' sai-d lower'thrustinembers; a lurality of 'abutment members, onev of saiabutmentmembers being arranged to engage one of said reinforcing legs to allowthe latter to be moved so ltliat-one of said yinserts may be installed;and a plurality of guards, on'e of said guards being place-d lso astovenclose one l'of said inserts.`

f6. In ya steel derrick, the-combination of: a top structure.; Aa.plurality -of main legs 'for supporting said top structure;a-pluralityfof upper thrust members, there being vone of said upperthrust members .secured at the upper end of each of said main legs; aplurality of lower thrust members, there being one of said lowerthrustmembers' `secured at the lower 'end of each of said main legs; -a

vj-plurality of reinforcing legs, one of -said reinserts, each of saidinserts comprising a iin `said upper thrust members; a plurality .of

number of shims, one of said insertswbeing arranged between one `of saidreinforcing .legs androne of said lower thrust members; and a pluralityof abutment members, one 0f said abutment members being arranged toengage one of s'aid reinforcing legs-to allow the latter .to be moved sothat One of' said inserts may be installed.

7. In a steel derrick, the combinationof:. a top structure; a pluralityof main legs for s supporting said top structure.; a pluralty of y upperthrust members, there being one `of said upper thrust members secured atthe at the lower end of each of said main legs; a 1.

plurality of reinforcing legs, one of said reinforeing legs beingarranged adjacent to each of said main legs and engaging one of saidupper thrust members; a plurality 'of inserts, each of said insertscomprising a number of shimsLone of said inserts being arranged betweenone .of ,said reinforcing legs and one of said lowerthrust vlmembers; aplurality of abutment'members, one 'of said abutmentmenibeiisubeing-arranged to engage one ofsaid reinforcing legs to allowthe latter to be moved so that one of said inserts may be installed; anda plurality of guards, one of said guards being placed so as to encloseone of said inserts.

In a steel dei-rick, the combination of: a top structure; a pluralityofmainlegs for supporting said top structure; a plurality of upperthrust members, there being one of saidupper thrust members secured at-tlie upper end of each of said main legsga pluiality of lower thrustmembers,v therebeing one of said lower thrust members secured at thelower end of each of` said main legs; a plurality of reinforeinglegs,oneof said re inforcing legs being arranged adjacent to each of saidmain legs and engaging rone of said upper thrust members; a plurality bemoved sothat one Ofsaid inserts may be installed, y j

9. In a steel derrick,fthe combination of: a top structure; a pluralityof main legs for supporting said top.r structure; a` plurality 'of upperthrust" members; there 'being o'ne of said upper thrust members Securedat-'the upper end-ofeach of said main legs; a plurality-of lower thrustmembers, there being oneyof said lowerthrust members secured atthe lowerend of each of said main legs; a `plurality of reinforcingA legs one ofsaid reinforcing legs being arrange adjacent to .6th day ,of

each of/said main legs and engagin'g'one of said upper thrust members; aplurality of inserts, each lof said inserts comprising' a number ofshiins,`whieh shims are composed of cooperating half-annular meinbers,"one of 'said `inserts being arranged between one of Isaid reinforcinglegs and one of said lower thrust members; a plurality of abutmentineijnbers, one of 'said abutment members being arranged t0 engage oneof said reinforcing legs to allow the latter to be moved so that one ofsaid inserts may be installed;

and a plurality of guai-ds, one of said guards. being vplaced so as toenclose one of said l0. liiasteel derricl, thecoinbination of: mainlegs; a top structure rigidly secured to the upper ends of said mainlegs and being jsuppoi'ted thereby; i'eiiiffgrcing legs, there beingl areinforcing legjgxtending adjacent to `ene of said main, legs; thrustmembers,

-one of saine being placedadjacen't to the lower ends of each of saidreinforcing legs;

and insert means, one of which being adapted to be placed between one ofsaid reinforcing legs and one of said thrust members.

ll. ln a steel derrick, the combination of: main legs; a top structure"rigidly secured to the upper ends of saidmain legs and being supported-thereby;reinforcing legs, there being a reinforcing leg extendingadjacent Ito one of said main legs; thrust members, one

of same being placed adjacent to the lower .ends of each ofsaidreinforcing legs; abutment ineiiibers one of which being adapted toengage one of said reinforcing legs to allow the latter to be movedinto'supporting relationship with said top structure; and

insert means, one of which being adapted to `be placed between one ofsaid reinforcing legs andone ofsaid thrust members.

y 12. A combination as defined in claim 11 inwliicli said lift membershave stems, said stems being adapted to extend through openings in saidthrust members.

In testimony wliereof,1 have hereunto set niy handl at ,Los Angeles,California, this May, 1925'.

j j LESLIEv A. RAWSON.

